I like to walk outside, and I have a few favorite routes. One day, I forgot my earbuds, so I turned into nature instead of a podcast. As I passed a fence, I noticed that a tree branch had found its way through a small hole. It felt like a symbol of resilience.
I’d walked by that tree dozens of times and never noticed its will to be seen. I think it’s because most of us go through life with blinders on. We’re too busy and in too much of a hurry to slow down and smell the proverbial roses. We look for distractions—even “productive” ones like podcasts—to take us away from the present moment. And as a result, we miss out on wows just waiting to be seen.
The truth is, everyday life could wow you but only if you let it. The key is to intentionally develop your wow meter.
What is a wow meter? Well, it’s something I made up. But it’s the part of you that combines curiosity and awe with patience to register the small wows around you. Here are some ideas for getting started.
Leave your headphones at home. A fitness trend on TikTok is the silent walk, walking outdoors without listening to music or a podcast. It’s about being alone in your thoughts or using the exercise as a moving meditation. It can also make you more open to what’s around you. After my experience, I make a point to walk at least two days a week in silence. I find I’m more open to seeing things I may have missed had I been engrossed in a podcast. My favorite is the laughter of children on a playground.
Pay attention to your senses. Gretchen Rubin’s latest book, Life in Five Senses, explores how seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting can be pathways to greater happiness. She writes, “Tuning in to our five senses can awaken our mindfulness and revive our sense of excitement, connection, gratitude, and wonder.” I agree. When was the last time you really looked at your child or spouse, tuned into the sounds of running water, felt a smooth stone, breathed in the scent of the rain, or savored your morning coffee? By reconnecting to your senses, you can find wows.
Build time into your day. It’s hard to look for wows if you’re running late. It can be challenging to see what’s around you when you’re stressed about getting where you’re going. That’s because you’re living in the future instead of the moment. I like to be more mindful of my time. If I need to go somewhere, I try to reach the destination early if possible. It gives me a chance to sit and take in my surroundings. It also helps to add downtime between meetings for reflection. And if you work from home, ensure you have an end to your workday so it doesn’t creep into personal time.
Make a vow to wow. Any habit you want to form requires one thing: commitment. If you’re going to put more wows into your life, you need to make it a priority. Decide that you aren’t going to bed until you have found a wow for the day. You can even create a wow journal to record your wow for the day. Wows don’t have to be tangible things; wows can be new ideas or ways of thinking. Wake up each morning asking yourself, “What will I encounter today that will make me say ‘wow’?”
One of the best results of fine-tuning your wow meter is that you are assured to put something positive into your life every day. I can’t wait to hear about the wows out there waiting for you.
Wow-Moments.com 